Apparatus for the three-dimensional reproduction of an object

ABSTRACT

The apparatus disclosed herein comprises a base having first and second platforms rotatably mounted thereto. First and second rods are mounted in parallel upon the base and wheels or sleeves are received on the rods for movement thereover. A mounting bracket is mounted to a shaft spanning between the wheels or sleeves and a mount rod is rotatably supported by the mounting bracket. A stylus is mounted to one end of the mount rod; a router is mounted to the other end of the mount rod. The stylus is positionable against an object located on the first platform, and the router is correspondingly positionable against a work piece located on the second platform. By appropriate, corresponding rotation of the first and second platforms and movement of the stylus against the object, the router will produce a three-dimensional reproduction of the object from the work piece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices capable of three-dimensional reproduction of an object.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The desire to reproduce objects of art and similar items has existed for a long time. As a result, a variety of machines or other devices capable of reproducing objects have been conceived. There has remained, however, a need for an apparatus of this type which is easily constructed and operated, and which is inexpensive. Moreover, it has remained desirable to provide an apparatus of this type which is of size and cost as to be practically available to individuals.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,211,061, issued to Cretsinger on Oct. 12, 1965, there is disclosed a carving attachment for radial arm saws which allows limited three-dimensional reproduction of an object. The attachment comprises a downwardly-extending yoke slidably mounted to a horizontal arm of the radial arm saw, and a shaft is rotatably mounted within the yoke. A plurality of members are mounted to the shaft to pivot in a horizontal plane, with a stylus being mounted to one of these members and a cutting attachment being mounted to another of these arms. Vertical motion of the cutting means is obtained by rotation of the shaft within the yoke. Movement of the cutting means in the horizontal plane is obtained by slidable movement of the yoke and by pivotal movement of the members attached to the shaft supported by the yoke, as well as by the normal pivotal movement of the arm of the radial arm saw.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,433, issued to Pecchioli on Aug. 12, 1969, there is disclosed a pantograph copy milling machine which is also capable of limited three-dimensional reproduction. Vertical movement of the stylus and cutting tool is obtained by slidable movement along a supporting, vertical column. Movement in a horizontal plane is obtained by movement of the support in which the stylus and cutting tool are mounted, by pivotal movement of arms connecting the support to the main portion of the tool, and also by rotation of the main portion relative the supporting vertical column. A comparable device comprising pivotally connected arms slidably mounted to a vertical column is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,260,157, issued to Zwick on Oct. 21, 1941.

Less relevant reproduction devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,742,823, issued to Compton on Apr. 24, 1956, and 3,796,129 issued to Cruickshank on Mar. 12, 1974. The Comtpon device consists of pivotally connected arms, with vertical movement obtained by sliding of the stylus and cutting tool within sleeve members. The Cruickshank device operates by tracing a series of successive, parallel lines of relief and thereby causes an otherwise two-dimensional reproduction to result in three-dimensional reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an apparatus for the three-dimensional reproduction of an object which includes a base, a shaft having a central axis, means for mounting the shaft to the base to be movable relative the base along an axis perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft, a mounting bracket mounted to the shaft, the mounting bracket being rotatable about the central axis of the shaft and moveable axially relative the shaft, a mount rod rotatably supported by the mounting bracket, the mount rod having a first end portion and a second end portion, a stylus mounted to the first end portion of the mount rod, cutting means mounted to the second end portion of the mount rod, a first platform rotatably mounted to the base and positioned to permit an object placed thereon to be contacted by the stylus, and a second platform rotatably mounted to the base and positioned to permit a work piece placed thereon to be contacted by the cutting means, the first and second platforms being rotatable in parallel planes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the three-dimensional reproduction of an object which is simple to construct and to operate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the described type which may readily incorporate a router or similar device to act as the cutting means of the apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple and reliable apparatus for three-dimensional reproduction which is capable of producing accurate reproductions of objects.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the preferred embodiments which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a three-dimensional reproduction apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the stylus and attaching mechanism used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial, cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a partial, perspective view of a three-dimensional reproduction apparatus in accordance with the present invention, there being shown an alternate version of the base which includes a vertically-adjustable top.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a three-dimensional reproduction apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a typical linear bearing structure useful in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

The present invention provides a three-dimensional reproduction apparatus which is simple and inexpensive in construction, but which yields excellent reproductions. A particular feature of the present invention is that it may be used in conjunction hand-held routers which can be affixed thereto for providing the cutting means of the invention. Although other cuttings means could be employed in connection with the present invention, the description will pertain for the purposes of illustration to embodiments in which a router is used as the cutting means.

Although the present invention is simple and inexpensive in construction, the three-dimensional motion of the cutting means and the guiding stylus is obtained with a high degree of accuracy. It is not required, however, that the parts from which the present invention may be constructed have high control of tolerances, and the instrument therefore provides excellent reproduction with a minimum of cost.

Referring now to the figures, there is shown a three-dimensional reproduction apparatus 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Apparatus 10 includes a stand 11 having vertical legs 12 and 13 connected by cross-beam 14. Table top 15 is secured to legs 12 and 13 and rotatably supports platforms 16 and 17. The object 18 to be reproduced is positioned upon platform 17 and a work piece from which the reproduction will be formed is similarly positioned upon platform 16.

Rails 20 and 21 are secured to top 15. Rails 20 and 21 are located in parallel grooves 22 and 23, respectively, and are thereby positioned in parallel with one another. Rails 20 and 21 are secured to to 15 by any suitable means, such as by bolts 57 (FIG. 3) which draw the rails firmly into the respective grooves.

Wheels 24 and 25 are received upon rails 20 and 21, respectively. Wheels 24 and 25 are of equal diameter and include circumferential grooves 26 and 27, respectively, which are shaped to mate with the rails. Cables 55 and 56 are secured to rails 20 and 21, respectively, and extend along the top thereof. Cables 55 and 56 also extend about the wheels 24 and 25, respectively, within their circumferential grooves as is known in the art, to permit the wheels to roll upon the respective rails, but to prevent the wheels from sliding relative the rails. This ensures that the position of the wheels relative the platform is maintained and prevents inaccuracy in the reproduction.

A cable tensioner is preferably associated with each of cables 55 and 56 to maintain frictional engagement of wheels 24 and 25. Various types of tensioners known in the art may be employed, such as by threading the cable through a diametric hole in a bolt securing the cable to the stand 11, and turning the bolt to wind up and thereby tighten the cable.

A shaft 28 extends between and is received within central apertures defined by the wheels 24 and 25, and is secured to the wheels by set screws, such as 29. Shaft 28 is thereby movable along an axis perpendicular to its central axis by the rolling of wheels 24 and 25 along rails 20 and 21. Mounting bracket 30 includes arms 32 and 33 which define apertures within which shaft 28 is received. Mounting bracket 30 is thereby rotatable about the central axis of shaft 28, and is slidable axially along shaft 28. Mounting bracket 30 further includes arms 34 and 35 which define apertures within which mount rod 31 is received. Mount rod 31 is rotatable relative arms 34 and 35, and is positioned parallel to shaft 28.

Stylus 36 is received within an aperture defined by mount rod 31 and positioned at one end thereof. A set screw 37 is threadedly received by the end of mount rod 31, and is screwed against stylus 36 to frictionally engage the stylus relative mount rod 31. A V-shaped member 38 is secured to the other end of mount rod 31. Router 40 is received against member 38 and is secured thereto by band 39. Band 39 has a free end which is secured to member 38 in accordance with known fastener mechanisms in order to frictionally engage router 40 against V-shaped member 38. The V-shaped member 38 aligns the router 40 with mount rod 31. Router 40 includes a router blade 41 having a cutting tip 43. Stylus 36 includes a tip 42, and tips 42 and 43 are preferably positioned at precisely corresponding radial distances and angles from mount rod 31. In this manner, the motion of tip 42 against the object 18 to be reproduced is correspondingly followed by the tip 43 of router 40, and a precise reproduction is obtained.

Threaded rods 44 and 45 are connected to arms 32 and 33, respectively, of mounting bracket 30. A counter-balance weight 46 is secured to rods 44 and 45 to offset the weight of the router 40 and other portions extending on the other side of shaft 28. Threaded rods 44 and 45 permit weight 46 to be positioned at a variety of positions relative shaft 28 to permit the desired counter-balance effect to be achieved. Counter-balance 46 thereby eliminates the factor of the weight of the router and other elements of the apparatus 10 and permits easier and more free movement of the stylus and router during the process of reproducing an object. Control of the apparatus 10 is therefore facilitated, and greater precision in the reproduction is made possible.

In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, a control box 48, including a control dial 49, is mounted upon rods 44 and 45. The router 40, or other cutting tool employed by the apparatus 10 is connected to the control box through electrical cord 47. Control box 48 is coupled to a power source through electrical cord 50. Control box 48 may simply provide an on-off control, but more preferably includes control dial 49 which permits selection of a variable range of power settings for the cutting means. Dial 49 thus permits the operable speed of the cutting device, such as router 40, to be matched with the material of the work piece from which the duplication will be produced.

Indexing means are provided to permit the rotational positions of platforms 16 and 17 to be precisely controlled and correlated. Platforms 16 and 17 include holes 51 and 52, respectively, which are sized to receive the router blade 41 and stylus 36, respectively. Alternatively, hole 51 may be sized to receive a plain rod inserted into router 40 for the purpose of aligning and moving platforms 16 and 17. Preferably, apparatus 10 is initially set up by providing hole 52 in platform 17. Stylus 36 is then positioned at hole 52, and the router 40 is used to cut hole 51 in a corresponding rotational position. In order to correlate the rotational positions of platforms 16 and 17, apparatus 10 is simply manipulated to position router blade 41 within hole 51 and to position stylus 36 within hole 52. Movement of mounting bracket 30 and mount rod 31 while maintaining the router blade 41 and stylus 36 in position within the respective holes will permit the platforms to be rotated in direct correlation with each other.

The platforms may be caused to be rotated as previously described by the movement of wheels 24 and 25 along rails 20 and 21, respectively, and by the simultaneous movement of the router 40 and stylus 36 axially with respect to shaft 28. When platforms 16 and 17 are in a corresponding position, the work piece 19 is positioned in a suitable location with respect to the placement of object 18 upon platform 17. Object 18 and work piece 19 are then attached to the platforms in any suitable manner, such as by external clamping or simply by nailing or gluing the objects to the respective platforms.

The platforms are held in corresponding positions by frictional engagement with table top 15. As shown in FIG. 3, bolt 54 and nut 58 are used to position washer-like member 53 against the tops of platforms 16 and 17, and to thereby frictionally engage the platforms against table top 15. A variety of other methods of securing platforms 16 and 17 in the selected positions could similarly be employed, although the shown and described mechanism is preferred due to its simplicity.

Platforms 16 and 17 are rotatably mounted upon table top 15. Platforms 16 and 17 are rotatable about and secured to top 15 by bolts 59 and 61, respectively, secured by nuts 60 and 62 (FIG. 3). Tip 42 of stylus 36 and tip 43 of router blade 41 are positioned to precisely correspond with the centers 64 and 63 of platforms 17 and 16, respectively. In this manner, the position of tip 42 of stylus 36 relative the object 18 to be reproduced will directly correspond with the position of tip 43 of router blade 41 with respect to the work piece 19, even after the platforms 16 and 17 have been correspondingly rotated.

The combination of elements comprising the present invention provides for precise and full control of the movement of the stylus 36 and router 40. Horizontal movement perpendicular to the central axis of shaft 28 is obtained by the rolling of wheels 24 and 25 along rails 20 and 21, respectively. Cables 55 and 56 prevent slippage of the wheels along the respective rails, and therefore maintain positive alignment of the wheels with respect to the rails and to the platforms 16 and 17. Axial movement relative shaft 28 is obtained by mounting bracket 30 being slidably received upon shaft 28, and also by mount rod 31 being slidable relative mounting bracket 30. Vertical movement of stylus 36 and router 40, or more particularly of the tips 42 and 43 thereof, is obtained by the rotation of mounting bracket 30 about the central axis of shaft 28, and in a lesser degree by the rotation of mount rod 31 relative mounting bracket 30. Since the platforms 16 and 17 may be simultaneously and correspondingly rotated relative top 15, and due to the ability to freely move the stylus and router in three degrees of freedom, an object 18 placed upon platform 17 may be fully and accurately reproduced from a work piece 19 mounted upon platform 16, and accurate reproduction of essentially all detail is made possible.

To insure an accurate reproduction of an object 18, it is preferable that platforms 16 and 17 be located in the same plane, and that the plane within which the platforms are located be parallel to the plane defined by the parallel rails 20 and 21. Mount rod 31 is positioned parallel to shaft 28, with the mount rod 31 and shaft 28 being positioned parallel to a line connecting the rotational centers 63 and 63 of platforms 16 and 17.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown an alternate embodiment of a supporting stand utilized by the present invention. Platforms 16 and 17 are rotatably mounted upon top 83 in the same fashion as described with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 1. Top 83 is connected to sides 79 and 80 by bolts, such as 84 and 85. Bottom 81 and back 82 are suitably attached to sides 79 and 80 to provide proper alignment of the sides. As is apparent from FIG. 4, top 83 may be positioned at a variety of vertical locations to permit the three-dimensional reproduction apparatus to be used to reproduce objects of substantial height. Thus, apertures 86-89 are provided at a second, vertical position, and top 83 may be released from its shown position and bolted into position through holes 86-89. Similarly, additional holes are provided at alternate vertical levels, such as holes 90-93. In this manner, the three-dimensional reproduction apparatus may be adapted to reproduce an object of considerable height. More particularly, an object of considerably height is reproduced in sections by first reproducing the lowest portion of the object and then progressively lowering the table top 83 to permit eventual completion of the reproduction process.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a second embodiment of a three-dimensional reproduction apparatus 65 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Apparatus 65 includes a stand having vertical legs 66 connected by braces 67. A base frame 68 including a table top is secured to the legs 66. The platforms 69 and 70 are rotatably supported by the table top of the base frame 68.

The platforms 69 and 70 include apertures within which a pair of rods 72 extending from a pitman bar 71 are receivable. The pitman bar is useful to provide coordinated rotation of the two platforms similar to the procedure described with respect to the first embodiment. The platforms are locked into infinitely variable positions by the lock assemblies 73.

Side shafts 74 are secured to and supported by pairs of vertical posts 75 which are in turn mounted to the base frame 68. Vertical posts 75 are adjustable with respect to vertical position relative the base. This is accomplished, for example, by providing the posts with several apertures 111 which may be used to bolt the posts to the base at different positions. In this manner, means are provided for varying the position of the main shaft in respect to its distance from the base. Side sleeves 76 are supported upon and movable axially along the side shafts. Referring in particular to FIG. 6, it is shown that in a preferred construction the side sleeves 76 include linear bearings which receive the side shafts therein. A resilient, compressible ring 78 is secured about the linear bearing 77 and provides a frictional engagement between the linear bearing and the side sleeve. Parallelism between the side shafts 74 is maintained by the inherent flexibility of the base frame 68, which is preferably formed from sheet metal, coupled with the inherent quality of extremely free axial movement of the linear bearings along the side shafts. This construction is particularly advantageous in that it avoids the costly manufacturing techniques normally associated with holding precise relationships between the side shafts. Further, the compressibility of the rings 78 held by a compression fit between cylindrical portions of the side sleeve and the linear bearing provides for a self-alignment of the side sleeves with the side shafts.

Main shaft 94 is secured to the side sleeves by a reception within shaft collars 95 which are rigidly affixed to the side sleeves. A mounting bracket includes a main sleeve 96 incorporating linear bearings in the same manner as shown for the side sleeves 76 in FIG. 6. The main sleeve 96, and therefore the mounting bracket, is received upon and movable axially along the main shaft 94. Arm 97 having an adjustable counterbalance weight 98 secured thereto is mounted to the main sleeve 96. A second arm 99 is secured to the main sleeve 96 and includes a sleeve 100 mounted at the opposite end. Mount rod 101 is received within the sleeve 100 and can be locked in any desired radial position by a set screw 102.

Similar to the description of the first embodiment, a cutting tool such as a router 104 is mounted by clamp 103 to one end of the mount rod 101. Mount rod 101 is preferably parallel to the main shaft 94. A stylus rod 105 is received within an aperture defined by the other end of mount rod 101 and is lockable in various extended positions by a set screw 106. The power cord 107 is connectable to a suitable power source and is controllable by a switch 108 having a switch guard 110, and also by a speed control 109. The switch guard 110 is secured to the right side of the switch 108 and curves to the left to force the user of the device to operate the switch with his left hand, thereby preventing the possibility of the left hand contacting the router bit during operation of the unit.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for the three-dimensional reproduction of an object comprising:a base; a shaft having a central axis; means for mounting said shaft to said base to be moveable relative to said base along an axis perpendicular to the central axis of said shaft; a mounting bracket mounted to said shaft, said mounting bracket being rotatable about the central axis of said shaft and moveable axially along said shaft; first and second rod portions; mount means for coaxially mounting said first and second rod portions to be rotatably supported by said mounting bracket, said mount means PG,18 further being for providing corresponding rotation of the first and second rod portions; a stylus mounted to the first rod portion; cutting means mounted to the second rod portion; a first platform rotatably mounted to said base and positioned to permit an object placed thereon to be contacted by said stylus; and a second platform rotatably mounted to said base and positioned to permit a work piece placed thereon to be contacted by said cutting means, said first and second platforms being rotatable in parallel planes.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said rod portions are portions of a single mount rod positioned parallel to said shaft.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said stylus and said cutting means include tips positioned to remain in corresponding spatial relationships to the first and second platforms, respectively, as said rod portions are rotated relative said mounting bracket.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said means for mounting said shaft comprises a first side sleeve and a second side sleeve, said shaft being mounted at about its ends to said side sleeves, said means for mounting said shaft further comprising first and second side shafts mounted to said base, the first and second side shafts being parallel, the first and second side sleeves each defining a central aperture within which the first and second side shafts are received, respectively, the first and second side sleeves being received and movable axially along the first and second side shafts, respectively, whereby said shaft is movable along an axis perpendicular to the central axis of said shaft and parallel to the first and second side shafts.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said means for mounting said shaft to said base includes adjustment means for varying the vertical position of said shaft relative to said base.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said means for varying the vertical position of said shaft relative to said base comprises two sets of vertical members, each set of vertical members being adjustably mounted to said base, each of said side shafts being mounted to one of said sets of vertical members, whereby adjustment of the vertical position of said sets of vertical members varies the vertical position of said shaft relative to said base.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said first and second side sleeves incorporate linear bearings which ride upon said first and second side shafts to provide axial movement of said side sleeves along said side shafts.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said mounting bracket incorporates linear bearings which ride upon said shaft to provide axial movement of said mounting bracket along said shaft.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which said first and second platforms are rotatable in a common plane.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which said mounting bracket and each of said side sleeves includes a cylindrical portion and a band of resilient material surrounding the linear bearing and providing a compression fit between the linear bearing and the interior of the cylindrical portion.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 and which further includes means for ensuring that the rotational position of one of said first and second platforms corresponds to the rotational position of the other of said first and second platforms.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 and which further includes locking means for locking said first and second platforms in selected rotational positions.
 13. An apparatus for the three-dimensional reproduction of an object comprising:a base; a mount rod; means for mounting said mount rod to be rotatable about its central axis and movable vertically, horizontally, and laterally with respect to said base, said mount rod having a first end portion and a second end portion; a stylus mounted to the first end portion of said mount rod; cutting means mounted to the second end portion of said mount rod; a first platform rotatably mounted to said base and positioned to permit an object placed thereon to be contacted by said stylus; and a second platform rotatably mounted to said base and positioned to permit a work piece placed thereon to be contacted by said cutting means, said first and second platforms being rotatable in parallel planes. 